Nigeria rejects NMRS bill

The government of Nigeria has rejected a proposed bill to establish a specialized security force, the Nigeria Mines Rangers Service (NMRS), dedicated to securing mining sites nationwide. Instead, it urged the Senate to bolster the existing Special Mines Surveillance Task Force (SMSTF), which already operates to counter illegal mining under the coordination of the National Security Adviser and the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development.

During a Senate public hearing on the bill, representatives from the Ministry of Solid Minerals, the Ministry of Interior, and the Ministry of Justice opposed the creation of a new agency, citing concerns over redundancy and duplication of functions already covered by the SMSTF and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Engr. Umar Bala, representing the Ministry of Solid Minerals, highlighted that the SMSTF comprises multiple security agencies working collaboratively, which he argued is a more integrated approach to tackling illegal mining than establishing a separate body. He also recommended deploying advanced technology, such as drones, to enhance surveillance and provide real-time monitoring of mining sites.

Mining security

The Ministry of Interior, through Assistant Director Geraldine Okafor, also argued against a new agency, suggesting instead that better training and equipping of NSCDC personnel could enhance their capacity to manage mining security. Similarly, Lateef Fagbemi, the Attorney General, called for amendments to the NSCDC Act to explicitly extend its responsibilities to cover tasks proposed for the NMRS.

However, some stakeholders, including the Commandant General of the National Unity and Peace Corps (NUPEC), Chinedu Nneji, and a representative from the Nigeria Customs Service, expressed support for the new agency, citing the limitations of existing efforts to curb illegal mining effectively. Senator Ogoshi, who sponsored the bill, defended its necessity, pointing out that current agencies have struggled to curb the scale of illegal mining activities.

Senator Ekong Sampson, Chairman of the Committee on Solid Minerals Development, concluded that all opinions and recommendations from the hearing would be carefully reviewed, acknowledging the challenges posed by illegal mining operations in the country.